Two firefighters shot dead in New York at scene of blaze

New York: Two firefighters were shot dead and two others were wounded in New York state on Monday when at least one gunman opened fire as the emergency personnel responded to a blaze, local media reported.

The incident - which comes as debate rages in the United States about gun control following the Newtown school massacre - happened in Webster, a suburb of Rochester, the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper reported, citing officials.

Webster police chief Gerald Pickering said shots were fired at the firefighters after they arrived at the scene of the early morning blaze. The two wounded firefighters were listed in guarded condition at a local hospital.

Police said there were no "active shooters" at the scene, but a security cordon was put up and residents were being evacuated, the paper reported.

Police and fire officials refused to comment about the incident when contacted by AFP.